The No. 4 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide suffered one of the worst upset losses of the college basketball season last weekend against Oklahoma. They made sure to correct that in emphatic fashion in their next matchup against Vanderbilt, breaking a program record with a beatdown on Tuesday.
Alabama practically had the game won by halftime, heading into the second half with a 43-15 lead.
It's raining threes in T-Town! 🌧️☔️
📺: https://t.co/ZCJoRj93GT#RollTide | #BlueCollarBasketball pic.twitter.com/QNJ6qvoiiO
— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) February 1, 2023
Things only got worse for Vanderbilt, ultimately losing by 57 points in a truly embarrassing defeat.
How’s that for a bounce-back⁉️#RollTide | #BlueCollarBasketball pic.twitter.com/HcWeXzKnpc
— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) February 1, 2023
This win for the Alabama Crimson Tide marks the largest margin of victory in program history against an SEC opponent. It is also the largest margin of victory against any opponent since 2003.
Largest margins of victories in Alabama men's basketball history:
61 points vs. Howard, 1958
61 points vs. Livingston, 1953
61 points vs. Barin Field, 1952
57 points vs. Mercer, 2003
57 points vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 2000
57 points vs. Howard, 1964
57 points vs. Vandy, tonight— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) February 1, 2023
Many took to social media to praise Alabama for this dominant win and believe that this game was a message to the rest of the country following their shocking upset loss to Oklahoma.
Looks like @AlabamaMBB got the message…
— Jimmy Dykes (@CoachJimmyDykes) February 1, 2023
Alabama has defeated Vandy basketball and football by 109 combined points in two games. 😅 pic.twitter.com/9asFDX8iJw
— theScore Bet (@theScoreBet) February 1, 2023
College basketball is hard to explain sometimes 🤷♂️
🐘 Sat: Alabama loses by 24
🐘 Tonight: Alabama wins by 57 pic.twitter.com/bxD8JEDu3T
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) February 1, 2023
Alabama basketball is treating Vanderbilt like Alabama football treats Vanderbilt. It's 74-28(!) in Tuscaloosa.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) February 1, 2023
This win for Alabama’s basketball team is shockingly a larger margin of victory than their football program had over Vanderbilt back in September.
Alabama Football beat Vanderbilt by 52
Alabama Basketball beat Vanderbilt by 57
— Todd Fuhrman (@ToddFuhrman) February 1, 2023
While Alabama is certainly a football school, their basketball program may be where the true postseason success comes for the school.
This win propels Alabama to 19-3 on the year, very clearly helping cement them as one of the top contenders to potentially make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament come March.
They will look to keep this positive momentum going against the LSU Tigers on Saturday.
[Alabama Men’s Basketball on Twitter]
